Current Research

PhD Title: Conduits of Invasive Aquatic Species into the UK: The Angling Route?

Currently, around £1.7 billion yr-1 is spent in the UK attempting to manage and eradicate invasive, non-native species (INNS) (Williams et al., 2010). Recognised as the second greatest cause of biodiversity loss worldwide (Wilcove, 1998), rates of INNS introduction into the UK has accelerated during the 20th century, from one new species every 30 years to currently around one every 5 years (Gallardo and Aldridge, 2014). The identification of at least four new aquatic invasive species in the UK, including the killer shrimp Dikerogammarus villosus, demon shrimp Dikerogammarus haemobaphes, quagga mussel Driessena bugensis and gulf wedge clam Rangia cuneata supports this. Furthermore, there are at least ten other freshwater invasive species in Western Europe with a high risk of introduction into the UK (Gallardo and Aldridge, 2014). Consequently unless effective measures are put in place to reduce the spread of INNS, the environmental and socio-economic impacts of invasive species are anticipated to vastly increase (Gallardo and Aldridge, 2013)

A new European Regulation of Invasive Alien Species came into force on the 1st of January 2015. Stated by Genovesi et al., (2014:1308) as the ‘first large EU piece of legislation on biodiversity in more than 20 years’, this regulation places prevention at the forefront of invasive species management and makes it an obligation for all EU Member States to implement Pathway Action Plans (PAPs) to minimize potential human pathways of INNS introduction.Angling has been identified as one of these potential pathways (Gollasch, 2006; Kelly et al., 2013). However, despite there being around four million recreational anglers in the UK (EA, 2004), there is currently limited evidence to determine the importance of this conduit.

My PhD represents the first attempt to investigate whether angling constitutes a significant pathway for invasive species introductioninto the UK from Europe. For my study, I will be particularly focusing on Ponto-Caspian macroinvertebrates and macrophytes and their potential dispersal between angling water bodies on damp fishing equipment.

Objectives

Assess anglers’ awareness of aquatic invasive species and the Check, Clean, Dry initiative.

Identify the frequency and patterns of movements of British anglers travelling to and from Europe for recreational fishing.

Investigate the direct and indirect impacts of invasive species on angling.

Identify which aquatic invasive species are currently present in popular angling lakes in France and The Netherlands.

Determine the desiccation tolerance of different Ponto-Caspian taxonomic groups on angling equipment and the implications for current biosecurity practices.

Evaluate the implications of these findings for the European Invasive Alien Species Regulation and Code of Conduct for Coarse Anglers.

Biography

Academic Qualifications

2014- Present: PhD, University College London

PhD Title: Conduits of Invasive Aquatic Species into the UK: The Angling Route?

2012-2013: MSc Aquatic Science, University College London

Grade: Distinction

MSc Dissertation: The role of active management in conserving pond diversity

2008-2012, BSc (Hons) Environmental Geography, University College London

Impact and Other Research:

The findings of my project can provide invaluable information to feed into the creation of an Angling Pathway Action Plan (PAP) for the UK, and the European Code of Conduct on Recreational Fishing and Invasive Alien Species. Although my project focuses on the movement of INNSinto the UK, my findings will also have wider applicability to other EU countries where fishing constitutes a major recreational activity.